Written by

Maria Amante
Gannett Wisconsin Media

Republican lawmakers and Gov. Scott Walker are starting off 2013 by renewing their efforts to allow a new mining operation in northern Wisconsin that they say will bring hundreds of new jobs, but failed to win support last year because of environmental concerns.

Walker stopped in three cities, including Green Bay, on Wednesday in an effort to gather support for the measure in the 2013-14 legislative session. The bill still is in draft stages, but should only include "a few tweaks" to distinguish it from last year's Assembly bill, he said at Valley Plating and Fabricating 111 W. Walnut St.